Arsenal Linked With Van Dijk, Dembele

Arsenal To Make Van Dijk Transfer Bid?

Arsenal are eyeing up a move for Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk. That’s despite the Dutchman only wanting a move to Liverpool.

The Merseyside club look set to make a bid worth as much as £60million for the 26-year-old van Dijk after having their knuckles rapped by the Premier League over an alleged illegal approach.

Liverpool are set to make a renewed bid although the Daily Express claims they will face competition from Arsenal. It says the Gunners will bid £45million.

Arsene Wenger had the chance to sign van Dijk for just £12million two years ago when he was with Celtic. But he decided not to pursue the bid and the Dutchman headed to Southampton.

The same source claims Wenger will make a move for Celtic striker Moussa Dembele if Alexis Sanchez leaves the club. The Chilean stated over the weekend that he wants to win the Champions League and that he is awaiting a response from Arsenal.

Manchester City are favourites to sign Sanchez although the Gunners will try and resist a move for the Chilean to another Premier League club. Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich have also been linked. However, Sanchez is believed to regard the French league as a backward step while Bayern’s signing of James Rodriguez on a two-year loan from Real Madrid appears to have ended their interest.

Dembele scored 32 goals for Celtic last season following his move from Fulham. The 20-year-old has been valued at £20million although he could go for a much higher fee given player valuations in the current transfer market.

The Frenchman still has three years left on his contract with Celtic. The Scottish champions would be happy to keep him for another season and let him go for a much a high price next summer. Dembele might have other ideas.